meningococcemia /mining′gōkoksē″mē·ə/ [Gk, meninx + kokkos, berry, haima, blood] , a disease caused by Neisseria meningitidis in the bloodstream, subsequently causing vasculitis. Onset is sudden, with chills, pain in the muscles and joints, headache, petechiae, sore throat, and severe prostration. Tachycardia is present, respirations and pulse rate are increased, and fever is intermittent. Treatment of choice is penicillin G. Peripheral circulatory collapse or Waterhouse-Friderichsen syndrome, which is fatal if not aggressively treated, may occur.
